MENIFEE: PRCS probationer arrested with gun, ammunition, narcotics

Jaime Garcia was arrested after being found in possession a gun, ammunition and methamphetamine. RSO booking photo

MENIFEE — Officials arrested a probationer after they found a gun, ammunition and methamphetamine inside his vehicle, Wednesday, May 31.

Authorities made the arrest about 9 p.m., after conducting a pedestrian check of a man seen walking away from a vehicle near the intersection of Oakmont Drive and Bradley Road in Menifee.

After searching the man’s car and locating the weapon and narcotics, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Menifee Special Enforcement Team arrested Jaime Benjamin Garcia, 33, of Moreno Valley.

Garcia was booked at the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of seven felonies related to weapons and narcotics possession, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of ammunition and multiple prior state prison enhancements.

After making contact with Garcia, deputies learned he was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) probation for auto theft, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Sam Morovich explained in a written press release after the incident and arrest.

Based on his probationary status, deputies searched Garcia’s nearby vehicle.

Garcia was in possession of a loaded .357 revolver, ammunition and methamphetamine. RSO photo

While searching his car, SET deputies located and seized a loaded .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, additional ammunition, and over 8 grams of methamphetamine, said Morovich.

An online jail records search revealed Garcia remains in custody, held on $105,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice June 2.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Deputy Frank at the Perris Sheriff Station at (951) 210-1000, or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number ME171510154 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff Department in 1998. During his time with the sheriff's department, he worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula and the Lake Elsinore Station along with many other locations. His assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and PWC based Lake Patrol, Problem Oriented Policing Team and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator. Montgomery was a foster parent to nearly 60 children over 13 years and is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 7 grandchildren.